Health Minister Claire Christian says Manx Care is working to get more dental surgeries to take on NHS patients.
There are now over 6,400 people on the waiting list for a dentist, with just 601 patients allocated a space so far this year.
Ms Christian revealed the figures in Keys, acknowledging the sharp rise from just four patients waiting in 2019.
She attributed the earlier low numbers to a now-discontinued scheme that paid dentists “three times the UDA [Unit of Dental Activity] value.”
She added: “Manx Care is reviewing the NHS dental contract UDA value to unify it across the island.”
Underserved
Lawrie Hooper raised concerns about the north of the island, where only one NHS practice remains after another handed back its contract in February.
“15,000 people are being badly underserved,” he said. Ms Christian confirmed two parties had expressed interest in providing northern services but admitted delays due to contract reviews.
Julie Edge also questioned why the system had “broken” since 2019, while Ann Corlett asked if reducing the list was possible without tightening eligibility.
Ms Christian said this was “something we absolutely have to review.”
A meeting between Manx Care and dentists scheduled for this week is hoped to provide further clarity.
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